Batonga makes its debuts in Bariga

A new play Batonga produced as a means of giving back and influencing positive change in the society will make its debut today at the Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School, St. Finbars Road, Akoka, Bariga Lagos. The play, which will be directed by Gbenga Yussuf will be performed for one hour starting from 4pm. It is targeted at children as a form of education and employment opportunity for the youth. Batonga is set to offer viewers the child trafficking business lesson and is expected to hold in 3 locations in Lagos. It will draw its casts from mostly unknown young actors and actresses in the creative sector.

It is a project initiated by Terra Kulture with the support of Ford Foundation to promote theatre in public spaces intended to show that theatre can thrive even when there is no purpose built infrastructure.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Terra Kulture Mrs. Bolanle Austen-Peters ‘we believe talent and creativity should not be limited or held back by want of proper facilities, but that we can make do with what is available and by being innovative and creative we can use what we have to get what we want. We believe that success with this initiative will inspire the growth and proliferation of neighbourhood theatres, help develop talents, create employment and help get kids off the streets.’

She said the project would enable them to take theatre to public schools, parks, play grounds and open spaces easily accessible to children and the youth. She noted that the project would focus on plays with social messages that are educative, informative and capable of instigating change.

“We will invite public schools in the neighbouhoods to arrange for their students to attend. We will also reach out to community associations to help spread word about the play coming to their neighbourhood,” she added.

Ford Foundation Representative Mr Innocent Chuwuma said that the foundation’s involvement is part of coming back to its legacy-art and culture in West Africa noting that though it was down played few years ago. “A new management at Ford is bringing that back. We are also exploring new ideas on other things that could be done in that area. Art and culture is a barrier breaker and everybody has a message to take away from it. This is what we want to do more. Let’s take over public spaces with arts. Until now, the elites have been offered lots of cultural shows as against the low appearances in the suburb areas,” Chukwuma said. He observed that Terra Kulture has revolutionized theatre growth in Lagos

The aims of the project include to use the platform to propagate social messages, create awareness about the potentials of careers in the theatre, create employment and economic benefits and get children off the streets, encourage investment in theatre and heater infrastructure, create a source of recreation and entertainment to families who ordinarily will not engage in recreational activities by taking it to their neighbourhood.